Vol. 11, N1. 1 | 1º semester | Published: 01/01/2013

Guest editor: Giorgio di Marchis (Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain)

In colloquial language the word 'rhetoric' has negative connotations. It is often used with the meaning of "sophistry or reasons not the case" (RAE, 2001, 22nd Ed.). Many people feel that the rhetoric is old fashioned and of little value, because sometimes is it used as synonymous with vacuum, something used by unscrupulous politicians, and petty vendors. However, rhetoric, or "art of speaking well, to give the written or spoken language effectively enough to please, persuade or move" (RAE, 2001, 22nd Ed.) has never ceased to be present in all communications, because communication is inherently rhetorical, and rhetoric is inherently communication.

The appropriate or inappropriate use that is given to this 'art of saying it well' is another story. This monograph, in which we invite you to participate, aims to integrate classical rhetoric with current technology, and social forms of communication that technology has brought. Where is the rhetoric on social networks? Is there rhetoric on SMS and WhatsApp messanges? Has the political rhetoric changed from 2,500 years ago? The language of sports, does own rhetoric? And if so, what has changed in the last 50 years?